Albums for the Apocalypse #2: King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard’s ‘Infest the Rat’s Nest’
With the threat of a global pandemic looming over our heads, what better album to listen to than one that deals with the complete and utter destruction of earth and mankind’s quest to rebuild. King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard’s fifteenth studio album “Infest the Rats’ Nest”, a concept album about the complete annihilation of planet earth and humanity’s choice to turn towards the stars as our only option, is a worthy quarantine pick. King Gizz frontman Stu Mackenzie describes the first half of the album as dealing with current problems, primarily ecological disaster, and its effect on our near future. The latter half then tells a gripping story of a group of rebels being forced to leave earth on a quest to colonize Venus.
While King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard has previously tapped into their heavy metal influences in the past, ITR sees the band going all out; delivering their first true thrash album. Newcomers and veteran fans alike will find nothing but elements to praise on this record. Newcomers will be drawn in by the fast and loud thrash riffs that placate the album, where speed is the name of the game and rage is the method. Veteran King Gizzard fans will find solace in Stu’s classic vocal style as well the weird and oftentimes surreal content of the band’s usual psychedelic and sci-fi influenced lyrical stylings.
At just around thirty-five minutes in length, the band wastes no time throwing the listener into a cacophony of crunchy guitar riffs and chunky bass lines. The opening tracks “Planet B” and “Mars for the Rich” teem with a heavy metal sound that feels more like it’s straight out of a classic Motörhead record, than the bands usual signature garage rock sound. The album then takes a turn into a more slow and methodical style with the closing track on the A-side with “Superbug”. The tune tells a contemporary tale of the dangers of antibiotic resistance and constantly mutating bacteria that feels eerily similar to our current world affairs.
The band picks up the pace once again as the album rounds the corner for its second half. As the songs begin to weave a tale of interplanetary takeover that sounds like something straight out of a classic sci-fi paperback, the listeners’ ears are assaulted with the catchy earworm choruses of “Perihelion” and both ‘Venusian’ tracks. The final two closing tunes are an assault of molten hellfire, both in lyrical content and sound. “Self-Immolate” delivers a song reminiscent of the band’s previous efforts with Mackenzie’s signature staccato vocal style permeating the chorus. Similar aspects show up in the closing track “Hell”, which rounds out not only the album itself, but the gripping story of the Venusian rebels taking over the planet.
As a whole, the album delivers an unforgettable thrash sound that listeners will find themselves humming constantly after just a single listen. The record appeals to anyone who enjoys the gripping metal style of bands like Slayer and Kreator as well as die hard fans who are just craving more of the band’s unique auditory presence. In a time where most listeners are being forced to quarantine themselves inside their homes and feel like they can see the apocalypse coming over the horizon, this album is more than the perfect soundtrack for the end of the world.
-DJ Wild Bill
Category: Reviews
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